Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Today, we like the chances of a couple of lightly-tried youngsters at the Goulburn meeting and at Sportsbet-Ballarat we are expecting a brother to the three-time Group 1 winner Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}) to make his presence felt.
Goulburn, Race 1, 1.25pm, Revolution Print Maiden, $22,000, 1000m
Absolute Puzzle (Rubick) is presented with a gilt-edged opportunity here to post an early winning strike. She looked good in winning two trials at Randwick before she went to Canterbury Park where she finished runner-up and from a handy gate looks primed to go one better.
Absolute Puzzle as a yearling
Prepared at Tulloch Lodge by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Absolute Puzzle was an $80,000 Inglis Classic Sale graduate and is out of sprint winner Without Exception (Flying Spur). She is a half-sister to the G2 Todman S. winner and sire Krupt and the stakes winner Anevay (Exceed And Excel). It’s also the family of the Argentinian Group 1-winning siblings Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize {USA}), Hinz (Arg) and Hispanidad (Arg).
Goulburn, Race 3, 2.35pm, Goulburn Marketplace Maiden, $22,000, 1300m
Saint Joseph (Reset) had trialled well before he made his first appearance at Goulburn earlier this month. He struck a heavy track and finished off solidly for fourth and the prospect of improved underfoot conditions may well see him go close to opening his account.
Reset, sire of Saint Joseph
He is a son of the unraced Miss Hottie (Commands) and she is a half-sister to the dam of the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Furnaces (Exceed And Excel). It is most notably the family of the four-time Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice) and her close relation Pariah (Redoute’s Choice), a dual Group 3 winner and runner-up in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.05pm, AC Accounting – Ballarat SV Maiden, $35,000, 1200m
Grandslam (Myboycharlie) is prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and the former trained this colt’s brother Jameka to win three times at Group 1 level in the BMW S., the Caulfield Cup and the VRC Oaks.
Grandslam as a yearling
A $600,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Grandslam trialled well earlier this month when third at Cranbourne and has his chance here to add to the family record. He is also a half-brother to the multiple winner and stakes performer Nikitas (Snitzel) with their dam Mine Game (General Nediym) a half-sister to the G1 Canterbury Guineas winner Jymcarew (Danzero).
